Moving from one task to another, without forgetting the ones in progress
“Lasagna is in the oven, the timer is on, and I’m doing the dishes while my partner tells me about her day and asks me about mine.” This is one of many everyday situations in which we do several things at the same time. In reality, it is more a matter of being able to switch from one task to another very quickly, without forgetting the ones that are still in progress. It is like juggling: you have to juggle several balls at the same time without dropping them. In the event of a brain injury, this ability can be affected.
A significant mobilization of energy
Many processes are involved in multitasking situations: for example, memory (remembering what has already been done and what remains to be done), flexibility (being able to switch from one task to another while adapting to the specific situation), or concentration. All of this requires a significant amount of energy and intellectual effort, which makes this management very difficult.
Take your time, eliminate distractions, and set reminders
Initially, it is ideal to avoid these situations, as they require too much gymnastics for your brain. It is important to take the time necessary to do one thing at a time. This involves:
- let your loved ones know that you need to do things at your own pace and ask them to be patient
- to arrange your environment to avoid too much stimulation (such as turning off your mobile phone at work, when preparing meals or paying bills)
Thanks to this, you will certainly be able to avoid moving on to something else by forgetting to return to what you were doing.
It can also be helpful to make plans with a list of tasks and set reminders to return to those in progress (setting alarms and using any form of cues, such as post-it notes or even string around the finger).